634 - Les Feldick Bible Study - Lesson 3 Part 2 Book 53 - The Legalist Viewpoint of James - Part 2

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 2 * BOOK 53 The Legalist Viewpoint of James - Part 2 James 1:24 – 3:6 All right, the last verse of James chapter 1, which is verse 27, and I might as well read verse 26 with it: James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain." And remember I pointed out their religion is what mankind can ‘do’ and the next verse points it up. James 1:27 What’s missing? The Spirit! See? The Holy Spirit. That’s almost absent here in the Book of James. Just compare with me how that James and Peter and John are not refuting Paul. Remember we’re comparing with what James says which is, listen, if you’ve got true pure religion, then get out there and go to work. Romans 7:5a Those things that we did contrary to the Law. In other words, the Law said, "Thou shalt not gossip." But we spoke evil of somebody. The Law said, "Thou shalt not steal." We were actively in opposition with what the Law taught. Now finishing the verse. Romans 7:5b "…which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Now for the flipside in the next verse. Romans 7:6a Now finishing the verse. Romans 7:6b (Law). What’s the spirit? The Holy Spirit. All right, let’s look at a couple more in II Corinthians, chapter 3. And let’s start at verse 3. Spirit of the living God;…" We’re living epistles. All right, so read it again, "That you are the epistle of Christ ministered by us." "Written not with ink (as his epistles are) but with the Spirit of the Living God." Now finish the verse. The Ten Commandments. II Corinthians 3:4 Now verse 5. II Corinthians 3:5 Next part) but our sufficiency is of God;" Does James say that? James says go out and visit the fatherless, and the widows and the orphans. The Spirit’s driving us. Now verse 6. II Corinthians 4:6 The Law) but of the spirit:…" James is speaking of the letter without the Spirit; Paul says you can’t do it by the letter without the Spirit. I think I’ve been in McAlester, how long? "…for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…" The Ten Commandments. "Ministration of death?" The Commandments are nothing but condemnation, they’re a ministration of death. All right, let’s continue on with verses 7 and 8: II Corinthians 3:7-8 Glorious! See? All right, back to James again. All right, verse 1. James 2:1 Jewish believers) have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons." What was James’ concept of the faith of their Lord Jesus Christ? Let’s go back - Matthew, chapter 16. I want you to see now what James is talking about when he speaks of their Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 16 verse 13. Matthew 15:14 Unbelief! All right, but Jesus in His compassion and His goodness, comes back in verse 15. Matthew 15:15 Matthew 16:16 "And Simon Peter (the spokesman) answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Not a word. Was Jesus satisfied? All right, now then, to these religious Jews who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah, but who are still keeping the Law, James says, "Now let’s be practical." James 2:2a "For if there come unto your assembly…" (Synagogue). Synagogue! James 2:2-3 Well they’re favoring the man who’s wealthy and up and coming and they’re putting the poor fellow down. And what does James say? "Hey, that’s bad religion." Now verse 4. James 2:4 It’s all evil. All right, so James now says, "And you’ve become judges (or practitioners) of evil thoughts." Now verse 5. James 2:5a "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,…" The poor and the downtrodden. What did the Lord Himself say about poor people? All right, so James says, you’re missing the point, poor people are really the gemstones of the operations of God because those are the kinds of people that he finds in faith. Now verse 6. James 2:6a "But ye have despised the poor…." Why? James 2:6 "But ye have despised the poor. You know why poor people stay poor? The poor man has to buy, and buy, and buy and buy. The rich man can buy once and it’ll last a lifetime. Verse 7. James 2:7 You’ve got to remember history. Now at this point in time in the Roman Empire, the Roman political officials had no problem with the Jewish religion and the Temple worship. They had no problem with the Jews. Saul of Tarsus. Perfect example. Wealthy. And what did he think of these Jews who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth? So verse 7 again. James 2:7 Jesus of Nazareth. They were followers of Jesus. Now verse 8. James 2:8 "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:" Jesus did - in His earthly ministry. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible